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David Cote, 44, Pleads Guilty to Theft from South Burlington Car Dealership
A Vermont car dealership employee has pleaded guilty to theft charges after embezzling thousands of dollars from his employer. David Cote, 44, of Essex Junction, pleaded guilty on January 28, 2015, in United States District Court in Brattleboro to a charge of access device fraud.
According to the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, Cote was employed as the parts manager at Freedom Nissan, a car dealership in South Burlington, from 2009 until his firing in 2012. During his employment, Cote was responsible for ordering parts and accessories for use in the business.
Cote defrauded Freedom Nissan of thousands of dollars by ordering parts and accessories from vendors on e-Bay, paying for the parts and accessories with the company credit card, then selling the parts and accessories in private sales, and pocketing the proceeds of these sales without reimbursing Freedom Nissan.
Freedom Nissan purchased some parts and accessories through vendors on e-Bay and paid for many of these Internet purchases with a company credit card. Cote’s scheme was uncovered after an investigation by the South Burlington Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Cote faces up to ten years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence will be determined with reference to federal sentencing guidelines.
Cote is represented by Richard Goldsborough, and the prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples. Sentencing is set for May 19, 2015.
Freedom Nissan was a victim of Cote’s theft, losing thousands of dollars due to his actions. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of proper financial oversight and security measures in businesses.
The investigation was conducted by the South Burlington Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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